Fluid control valve



Nov. 14, 1961 FEGEL 3,008,487

FLUID CONTROL VALVE Filed Sept. 8, 1959 FIG.|. FIG.4.

99 4s 67 2 94 a2 68 44 42 2 as 72 70 78 8 I06 64 as 2 4.6

3o 30 lg g I00 I04 97 as I INVENTOR.

ALBERT FEG EL BY 60 Ma A TORNEYS United States Patent i FLUID CONTROL VALVE Albert Fegel, 502 Michigan, Whittier, Calif. Filed Sept. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 838,602

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-620) This invention relates to improvementsin fluid control valves-and specifically relates to the type of fluid control valves having time operated means associated therewith. More particularly, this invention relates to time controlled fluid valves for use in fluid circulating systems or circuits.

This invention has particular application with underground sprinkler systemsor in photographicprocesses where pictures or films are; washed or rinsed, or in other cases where it is highly desirable to terminate the flow ofwater from asource of fluid supply to the work after aicertain time period has elapsed. Such an operation may be a'ccomplished'without the intervention of a workman after the original, time setting has been made and is dependent merely on the passing of the specified period of time to, discontinuecor terminate the flow of water or other fluid from the sourceto the Work.

' An object of this invention .is to provide an improved flow control valve. e Another objectof this invention is to provide a fluid control valve which may be utilized in fluid systems, particularly water systems, to automatically terminate the fluid flow after a certain length of time has elapsed.

7 Still another object of this invention is to provide a time operatedfluid control valve which 1133?. pilot valve for controlling the, operation of the main valve which controlsthe fluid passing from the source of supply to the work anda relief valve associated vvith the pilot valve for terminating flow through vthemainvalve whereby both the relief valve and pilot valve are responsive to a time ac,tuated-;mechanism. i

Afurther object of-this invention is to provide a pilot valvefor actuating a main valve member, a relief valve associated with the pilot valve wherein both valves are operated by a time operated cam mechanism to terminate flow'across the'main valve,- said mechanism initially closing' the pilot valve" and immediately opening the relief v lv if -A- still-, further object of this invention is to provide a pi'lot =va l ve' for operatingthe main valve,a relief valve associated with thepilot valve, and'means for closing the pilot valve and opening the relief valve flowacross the main valve. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a time controlled valve structure which is simple and durable in construction; economical to manufacture, and eflicient in its operation.

,Further objects and advantages of thepresent inven tion will be apparent from the following description reference being made to the accompanying drawing wherein a for terminating preferred formof the presentinvention is clearly-shown;

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is'a vertical sectional view through the control valve whichis shown in an open position.

7 FIGURE 2 is a top view of the valve :partly in section with the timing mechanism removed and taken on line,

sisting of a valve portion and a time control mechanismice;

an annular valve seat. A pilot valve is provided in thevalve body for delivering fluid to actuate the main valve. A relief valve is also provided in the valve body for discharging the fluid acting on the main valve to permit the main valve to move to a closed or zero position. Means are provided to close the relief valve and open the pilot valve for actuating the main valve. Additional means are provided to successively close the pilot valve and open the relief valve for permitting the main valve to close the. an'nular'valve seat and terminate the flow through the control; valve.v It should be understood that "other means may be utilized when opening the main valve so that the pilot and relief valves operate in a diflerent sequence than previously explained. As an example, the mechanism may simultaneously close the relief valve and open the pilot valve or first open the pilot valve immediately followed by the closing of the relief valve. When closing the main valve a different sequence of operation may also be used. The pilot and relief valves may be operated simultaneously to close the main valve or the mechanism may be arranged to open the relief valve immediately before closing the pilot valve.

The time control valve is generally represented as numeral 10 and is composed of two main portions, namely, a timing mechanism 12 and a valve portion 14. The timing mechanism 12 is a standard item which may be purchased on the market. The timing mechanism 12 per se forms no part of the present invention with the exception of the addition of a camming surface to the pivotal lever, aswill be explained herein later.

The valve portion 14 comprisesa body 16which has a vertical fluid, inlet connection 18 and a horizontal fluid outlet connection 20. The inlet and outlet connections 18 and 20 respectively are provided with threads for ready connection in a fluid system or circuit. A fluid passage of cylindrical cross section represented by the numetal 22 connects the inlet connection 18 with the outlet connection 20. An annular valve seat 24 is interposed in the valve body 16 in the fluid passage 22. A fluid chamber 26 is also provided inthe valve body 16 and has a piston assembly or main valve 28 movable in the chamher'26 to open and close the annular valve seat 24. The piston assembly 28 comprises a piston head 30 mova'ble in the chamber 26 on one end of a cylindrical rod 32 and a valve plug 34 threadedly secured to the other end of the rod 32 by a nut 36 or by other suitable fasr tening means. The fluid chamber 26 is concentric with the vertical axis of the annular valve seat 24; The piston head 30 longitudinally moves in the chamber 26 to correspondingly move the valve plug 34 for opening and closing the valve seat 24.

The pilot valve 38 is horizontally mounted in the valve portion 14 and has a plunger '39 located in a cylindrical bore 41. The pilot valve 38 has a specificjfunction ofi controlling the opening and closing of the valve seat 24 with themain valve 28. A passage 40 oonnects-thepilotvalve 38; with the fluid passage 22. I Resilient means 42 such as==a biasing spring is provided in'the-enlargedbore 37 of the pilot valve 38 for normally holding the plungerleakage at. the pointlwhere, the plunger 39 emerges-into, the cavity 46 locatedin .the upper part of the valve por-f' tion 14. The O-ringj44 insures that the timing mechanism t 12 will remain dry at all times. Another O-ring 48 ispro- 'vided adjacent the plunger head "50 topreventlleakage" past the plunger 39 to the chamber 26 when the valve seat 24 is closed by the valve plug 34.

Means are provided, as will be explained later, for opening the pilot valve 38 to permit the fluid in the passage 22 before it reaches the valve seat 24 to communicate with the fluid chamber 26. The cylindrical bore 41 in which the plunger 39 travels has an enlarged portion or chamber 52 which is normally sealed by the O-ring 48 and the plunger head 50. A pair of drill passages 54 and 56 are provided to communicate with the enlarged chamber 52 and the fluid chamber 26. When the plunger 39 is opened fluid is transmitted from the passage 22 of the valve seat 24 through passage 40, chambers 37 and 52, passages 54 and 56, and finally to the fluid chamber 26.

With the pilot valve 38 open, the fluid acting in chamber 26 is exposed to a larger area than the fluid acting on the valve plug 34. The main valve 28 will therefore move in a direction to open the valve seat 24. Resilient or spring means 58 are provided in an air vented chamber 60 to return the valve 28 to a closed position to block flow across the valve seat 24. A vent passage 62 connects the chamber 60 with the atmosphere to provide a conventional dashpot arrangement. The restricted vent passage 62 is of such a size to prevent hydraulic rap or knock usually caused by the main valve closing too quickly.

A plate 64 is connected to the inner circular portion of the valve body 16 by a plurality of bolts 66 to separate the fluid chamber 26 from the upper cavity 46.

The spring clock timing unit 12 is secured in the upper cavity '46. The mechanism 12 has a downwardly extending cylindrical flange 67 which engages the upwardly extending cylindrical flange 68 of the valve portion 14. F-astening means (not shown) are provided to hold the timing mechanism 12 in a non-rotatable position with the valve portion 14 but which permits ease of removability of the timing mechanism 12 from the valve portion 14 for maintenance or other purposes. The unit 12 provides a shaft 70 which extends downwardly from the unit 12 and upon which is mounted a rotatable cam 72 which has a notch 74 therein. A cam follower 76 is mounted on a lever 78 which is pivoted on one end thereof on the timing mechanism 12 and is adapted to ride on the periphery of the cam 72 and engage in the notch 74. A camrning surface 80 is provided on the outer end of the lever 78 to actuate a relief valve 82 as will be explained in detail later. A spring 84 is provided to bias the lever 78 toward the cam 72. When the valve mechanism 12 is not in operation, the cam follower 76 will be engaged in the notch 74 as is shown in FIGURE 3. Upon the timing mechanism 12 being set into motion, the follower 76 will be moved radially out of the notch 74 to engage the periphery of the cam 72. The radial movement of the lever arm 78" with the cam follower 76 engaging the cam 72 will actuate the pilot valve 38- so as to move the plunger 39' outwardly to permit the fluid on the inlet side of the valve seat 24 to travel into the fluid chamber 26. The valve seat 24 will be maintained in an open position until the cam follower 76 has again been received in the notch 74.

The relief valve 82 previously referred to is mounted horizontally in the valve body 16 and communicates with the fluid chamber 26 for the specific purpose of discharging the actuating fluid in chamber 26 to the atmosphere at the time when the cam follower 76 has been received by the notch 74 to close the pilot valve 38. The relief valve 82 insures that the main valve 28 may move to a closed position to shut the valve seat 24. The relief valve 82 has aplunger 83 which is normally biased by a lightweight spring 86 and by the fluid pressure acting thereon to a closed position until the camming surface 80provided on the. outer end of the lever 78 has engaged the relief valve plunger 83 to open a fluid passage from the chamber 26 through the relief valve 82 to the atmosphere. A horizontal passage 88 leads from the chamber 26 and is intersected by a substantially vertical passage 90 which communicates with the enlarged pilot valve chamber 92. The plunger head 94 provided on the plunger 83 normally prevents flow through the chamber. 92 until the plunger 83 is actuated by the camming surface 86 to move the head 94 off its seat by initially overcoming the light-weight spring. 86 carried by a screw type spring seat 87 and the pressure of fluid. Another passage 97 connects the chamber 93 with the atmosphere.

In both the pilot and relief valves the fluid pressure is directed against the valve plungers to urge the plungers in a valve closing direction.

As is shown in the drawing, the camming surface 80 on the lever 78 and the associated mechanism is so arranged to open the relief valve 82 by moving the plunger 83 radially outwardly immediately after the cam follower 76 engages the notch 74 to close the pilot valve 38. It should be understood that other mechanical or timing mechanism may be employed to actuate the'pilot valve 38 and relief valve 82 in their proper sequence simultaneously or to actuate both of them in rapid successionregardless of which valve is actuated first.

An appropriate handle 96 is secured to the stem 98 of the mechanism 12 through which the timing device is set into motion. The handle 96 has a time indicator (not shown) on the surface 99 which is graduated in equal periods of time. By turning the handle 96 until the proper time interval is selected, a spring provided in the mechanism 12 is energized. The clock mechanism permits the handle 96 to gradually move back to zero indicator. When the main valve 28 is in a zero position the cam follower 76 is engaged in the notch 74. The follower 76 is urged into the notch 74 by the spring 84.

When the clock mechanism is inoperative and it is re quired to supply fluid for a certain purpose which is to be controlled by the valve 10, the handle 96 is turned to the appropriate place on the time indicator. This place indicates the amount of time water will travel through the valve 16. Movement of the handle 96 moves-the lever 78 so that the cam follower 76 is moved onto the periphery of the cam 72 and actuates the pilot valve 38- by moving the plunger 39 radially outwardly to unseat the valve seat 24, as have been explained previously.

When the clock mechanism has been operatingfor nearly the period at which the time was set, the cam 72 rotated by the mechanism returns the notch opposite the follower 76. The follower 76 rides off of the periphery of the cam 72 into the notch 74 to close the pilot valve 38. At this point the camming surface which has been added to the timing mechanism 12 in order to achieve part of the invention, opens the relief valve 82. Such sequence of operation permits the plunger 39 to move radially inwardly to close the pilot valve 38 and permits the main valve 28 to move upwardly by means of the resilient spring 58, to close the valve seat 24 with the valve plug 34.

A manually actuated valve (not shown) is usually positioned on the outlet side of the time control valve 10' and may be adjusted to increase or decrease the volume of the flow through the valve. 10 as is desired by the. operator.

Passages 54, 56, 88, and are drilled in some. places through the outer periphery of the valve body and therefore it is necessary to supply appropriate plugs or cores: to block the outer ends of the passages as. is; shown at numeral 100.

Appropriate O-rings 102 and 104 are utilized on the. piston assembly 28 to effectively seal the various chambers adjacent thereto. Gaskets 106 and 108 are utilized with valves 82 and 38 respectively to prevent fluid leak-- age from the valve housings.

While the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within. the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Control means for regulating the movement of a shiftab-le valve member comprising a body having a chamber formed therein, a first valve including a supply passage having a valve seat therein, one end of said supply passage connected to said chamber and the other end connected to afluid source, a plunger movable in said supply passage to open and close the valve seat in said supply passage, a second valve including an exhaust passage having a valve seat therein, one end of said exhaust passage connected to said chamber and the other end connected to the atmosphere, a plunger movable in said exhaust passage to open and close the valve seat in said exhaust passage, resilient means for biasing said 7 plungers in a closing direction against said valve seats,

and means for alternately opening said first and second valves, said means comprising a cam rotatable about a. fixed axis, a lever pivoted on one end and movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cam, a cam follower carried by said lever intermediate its ends and located directly opposite from one of said plungers, a oamming surface on the other end of said lever opposite the other of said plungers, means for moving said lever in a direction to urge said follower against said one plunger and to cause said follower to engage the periphery of said cam, thereby urging said one plunger away from its valve seat, and means for moving said lever in another direction to disengage said follower from said one plunger and from the periphery of said cam and to urge said camrning surface against said other plunger, thereby moving said other plunger away from its valve seat.

2. Control means for regulating the movement of a shiftable valve member comprising a body having a chamber formed therein, a pilot supply valve including a supply passage having a valve seat therein, one end of said supply passage connected to said chamber and the other end connected to a fluid source, a plunger movable in said supply passage to open and close the valve seat in said supply passage, a pivot relief valve including an exhaust passage having a valve seat therein, one end of said exhaust passage connected to said chamber and the other end connected to the atmosphere, a plunger movable in said exhaust passage to open and close the valve seat in said exhaust passage, resilient means for biasing said plungers in a closing direction against said valveseats, and means for alternately opening said supply and relief valves, said means comprising a cam rotatable about a fixed axis, a lever pivoted on one end and movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cam, a cam follower carried by said lever intermediate its ends and located directly opposite from the plunger of said supply valve, a camming surface on the other end of said lever opposite the plunger of said relief valve, means for moving said lever in a direction to urge said follower against the plunger of said supply valve and to cause said follower to engage the periphery of said cam, thereby urging the plunger of the supply valve away from its valve seat and permitting fluid communication between the chamber and the fluid source, and means for moving said lever in another direction to disengage said follower from the plunger of the supply valve and from the periphery of said cam and to urge said camming surface against the plunger of said relief valve, thereby moving the plunger of said relief valve away from its valve seat.

3. Control means for regulating the movement of a shiftable valve member comprising a body having a chamber formed therein, a pilot supply valve including a supply passage having a valve seat therein, one end of said supply passage connected to said chamber and the other end connected to a fluid source, a plunger movable in said supply passage to open and close the valve seat in said supply passage, a pilot relief valve including an exhaust passage having a valve seat therein, one end of said exhaust passage connected to said chamber and the other end connected to the atmosphere, a plunger movable in said exhaust passage to open and close the valve seat in said exhaust passage, resilient means for biasing said plungers in a closing direction against said valve seats, and means for alternately opening said supply and relief valves, said means comprising a rotatable cam having a notch in the periphery thereof, means for rotating said cam about a fixed axis, a lever pivoted on one end and having a camming surface on the other end opposite the plunger of said relief valve, a cam follower on said lever intermediate the ends of said lever and adapted to be received in said notch, said follower being located directly opposite from the plunger of said supply valve, means for moving said lever in a direction to move said follower out of said notch on to the periphery of said cam and against the plunger of said supply valve for urging the plunger of the supply valve away from its valve seat to permit fluid communication between the chamber and the fluid source during the rotation of said cam, and means for moving said lever in another direction to disengage said follower from the periphery of said cam and position said follower in said notch upon termination of the rotation of said cam, thereby moving said follower away from the plunger of said supply valve and to urge said camming surface against the plunger of said relief valve to move the plunger away from its valve seat, thereby venting the fluid in the chamber to the atmosphere through said exhaust passage.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said pilot valves are located in planes approximately apart.

5. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein resilient means are provided for urging the cam follower radially towards the aforesaid fixed axis.

6. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said cam follower is cylindrical and has an axis parallel to the aforesaid fixed axis.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Alfery Sept. 16, 1958 

